Vaccinations (info by Pat Mercer from The Pocket Farm Website)

Goats need to be routinely vaccinated against enterotoxaemia caused by clostridium perfringens types B, C, D and also tetanus. Other clostridial diseases are rare in this country and are generally not a problem for goat keepers. The broad spectrum vaccines on the market for sheep (heptovac or heptovacP etc.) are not required for goats and if used, add an unnecessary strain on their immune system but in areas where you may be affected by these other diseases it is best to speak to a caprine vet for advice. Lambivac is the only licensed vaccine for goats in the UK

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Dosage: 2ml injected subcutaneously with a booster after 4 weeks when the vaccine is first introduced. A goat does not hold antibody for as long a period a time as sheep and will, therefore, require vaccination every six months thereafter.

Young kids whose mother has not been vaccinated beforehand would need to start the programme at four weeks of age but if its mother has already been vaccinated, then there is no need to start vaccination until the kid is eight weeks of age. Whenever introduced, there should be a ‘booster’ injection four weeks after the first one. After injecting, rub the spot gently to disperse the vaccine and to avoid the formation of a lumpy swelling. However, despite the best of intentions, this does sometimes happen and is nothing really to worry about.

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Lambivac must be kept in the fridge until required. Do not keep it against the walls of the fridge and certainly not in the freezer compartment as either action would result in the vaccine losing its potency, as would leaving it outside in the sunlight or on the kitchen shelf. Once the pack is open it needs to be used on the same day. It cannot be put back in the fridge and used again for the ‘booster’ four weeks later. Another pack will be required for this. Wasteful, perhaps but essential as:

“…the aspiration of air back into the pack through the puncture can lead to contamination of the contents. Such contamination can then cause abcesses and severe local reactions: or the contamination in the bottle grows, for a while but then runs out of nutrient substrate. The bacteria then die liberating endotoxins which are particularly toxic to goats causing severe reactions and possibly death within twenty minutes” (S.E.G Smith MRCVS Hoechst Ltd.)

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Should any goat keeper already have started using Heptovac there is no need to give a ‘booster’ of Lambivac to the whole herd when transferring to the different vaccine. Remember that Lambivac has to be administered every six months thereafter.

Siting of the injection

Injection is recommended into the loose skin along the side of the neck. Gently lift the skin away from the muscle mass and inject at a slight angle along the underneath of the skin, not at right angles directly into the muscle. Rub the site gently after injecting. Turn the goat’s head towards the injection site thus aiding the loosening of the skin on the neck. If someone is holding the goat for the injector, then ensure that it is held firmly and securely and not stressed out by an over fussy or panic stricken handler. This especially applies when dealing with young kids as they need to be confidently and calmly dealt with.

It would be best to get some instruction on injecting your goats before undertaking it yourself as a practical demonstration will always be easier to follow that written instructions. As always, if you would prefer not carry out the procedure then you should enlist the help of another experienced keeper or your vet.